Date:         Wed, 27 May 1998 01:12:04 -0700
Reply-To:     Randolph Feuerriegel <RFeuerriegel@BC.SYMPATICO.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Randolph Feuerriegel <RFeuerriegel@BC.SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject:      88 Syncro / cold start surging
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Greetings! New to the list, but have browsed & enjoyed the archives.
After months of trying to find a solution to my cold start surges from
numerous technicians, list archives, manuals, and trial on error, I am
hoping that someone on the list has had a similiar problem. I found one
list message about adding a 500 ohm resistor to the temperature sender
II which would fool the ECU into thinking it was warm. Did not try this.
 The symptoms: Cranks over right away in the morning. About 30 sec to a
minute later it surges to 1500 rpm, then drops to 950 rpm. 30 secs later
another surge, then once more. If I let the vehicle sit until noon as
the day warms up, hardly a surge, and if it is really hot outside, no
surging.
Checks & replacements: New temp. sender ll. Measures up fine. Throttle
switch new and working fine. Idle stabilizer hums etc. & ICU swapped
with working others, still no change. Throttle shaft has a litle wear,
but the problems appears temperature related. Grounds checked &
rechecked. Wiring ok, but just in case tried another FI harness. No
change. AFM swapped with working one, no change. Even tried the
capacitor in the AFM harness. Oxygen sensor fairly new and as it heats
up the surging stops. Van runs reasonably well after this.
 There are a few other problems, intermittent rough idle, occaisional
missing at speed under 100 km per hour, some roughness from engine when
downshifting, back pressure. Over 100 km per hr., cruises just fine.
Lots of power. Have also replaced the coil, ignition wires, dist. & cap,
plugs. Beginning to think ECU.  Hope not. Thanks for reading.

Randolph